Laser Cut Absorber Tiles for X-ray Detectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of large absorber layers for X-ray and gamma detectors, particularly those using perovskite or other direct conversion materials, faces challenges such as brittleness, material loss, and inhomogeneous edges due to soft-sintering methods, leading to variations in radiation absorption and signal quality.
Innovation Solution
Pulsed laser cutting is used to precision-cut the edges of absorber tiles, minimizing energy introduction and chemical composition changes, allowing for accurate geometry adaptation and reduced inhomogeneities, enabling easier tiling and improved signal detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If soft-sintering method is used to produce absorber layers, then large detector surfaces can be produced, but edge areas show different compression and material loss leading to inhomogeneous radiation absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber layer is divided into multiple separate absorber tiles that are arranged to form the detector surface. This segmentation allows each tile to be produced with consistent quality using soft-sintering, while the modular approach enables large detector surfaces without the edge compression problems affecting the entire layer uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The edges of the absorber tiles are pre-cut to precise dimensions before assembly into the detector. This preliminary precision cutting ensures that when tiles are arranged, the edges align properly without the inhomogeneities that would result from soft-sintering the entire large area at once.
2Reliability
If absorber layers are produced as thick independent layers for efficient radiation detection, then radiation absorption efficiency is improved, but handling becomes more complicated due to brittleness
Solution Approach 1:
The thick absorber layer is segmented into multiple thinner tiles that can be handled more easily. Each tile maintains sufficient thickness for effective radiation detection while being small enough to manage without excessive difficulty, and multiple tiles are arranged to achieve the total required absorption path length.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorber is implemented as thin tile structures rather than a single thick layer. These thin film-like tiles are flexible enough to handle but maintain the necessary absorption properties when arranged in a multi-tile configuration, reducing the handling complications of thick monolithic layers.
3Area of stationary object
If rectangular edges are produced for tiling absorber layer parts, then dead areas between tiles are minimized, but producing such edges with thick absorber layers is technically difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber tiles are pre-cut with precise rectangular edges using a cutting tool before being assembled into the detector. This preliminary shaping ensures that when the tiles are arranged, they fit together with minimal dead areas, and the cutting is performed on manageable tile sizes rather than attempting to shape large thick layers directly.
Solution Approach 2:
The production of rectangular edges is achieved by replacing the soft-sintering mechanical process with a cutting process. Instead of relying on the molding tool to create perfect rectangular edges during sintering, the tiles are cut after formation using a cutting tool that can produce precise rectangular geometry on the finished tiles.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method achieves precise cutting with minimal material alteration, reducing dead zones and enhancing image quality by ensuring uniformity and flexibility in detector geometry, while maintaining high absorption efficiency and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
at least edges of tiles facing another tile have been cut using pulsed laser cutting
Implementation Method 2
a first layer comprising a multitude of tiles comprising a material absorbing and converting the electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a detector for electromagnetic radiation, particularly an X-ray and/or gamma detector, comprising a first, pixelated electrode layer comprising a multitude of electrode pixels, a first layer comprising a multitude of tiles comprising a material absorbing and converting the electromagnetic radiation, wherein at least edges of tiles facing another tile have been cut using pulsed laser cutting, and a second electrode layer, as well as a method of producing such a detector. The project leading to this application has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 871336.